Alton gasps in shock and disbelief as his friend falls to the ground. His whole body begins to shake, out of fear or anger, even he cant say. He takes in the new arrivals to the room in an almost detached matter as he stalks around the throne to the rear of the warlord, and quietly promises to himself that if this is to be the end, he will at least send this creature to a more permanent death.
On a slightly related note, there is something amusing about your question, remind me to tell you after this fight.
Pharris feels her grip on the sword weakening, it must be the trembling in her hands. Could this be the end?
Glitter Dust is a will save, but not mind effecting, it is Conjuration (Creation).
[ooc]At the risk of sounding like an a$$hole or a grumpy bugger, no. I gave you guys a scanned map to make it as easy as possible for everyone to keep track of the battle themselves without having to draw it yourselves from alpha-numeric coordinates, and I’ve nominated positions for everyone if they’ve moved without giving map co-ordinates (I think). It shouldn’t be hard to figure out where everyone is. My own hard copy of the map is covered in my scribbles and notes – to clean it up, re-scan it, upload and save it to photobucket is a good fifteen minutes work, I’m not going to keep doing that every round or two.
Don’t mean to single you out FW (you did ask politely), just questioning the benefit and effort of providing a map if its not meeting its intended purpose (which is to help people keep track of the battle).
[ooc]I agree, but Pharris is not currently adjacent to the guy, having five foot stepped away on her turn this round (I nominated a position for her of F15). Just making sure Alton intends to risk an AoO to take that position at this stage, especially given my misinformation about Kajetan’s physical state.
Tamiach (for it is he – or what is left of him) is at D17, the second consort is at I12, the two armoured skeletal guys are at G20 and G21.
Alton was at D15 (might be moving to D18), Keildrithe was at G19 (might be moving to F17), Pharris was at F15 (by your last in-character post it looks like you’re intending to move to re-engage Tamiach? Presumably to D16?), Laithe is at F19, Nicolai is at H12, Kajetan is prone at E16.
"What th,... ARTON ALMIGHTY!" Nicholai yelps in surprise as he realizes that he is staring eye-to-bony fingertip with another withered woman. He instinctively raises his arm in a warding gesture as he ducks the ghastly apparitions outstretched claws. Either the superstitious gesture worked, or it was distracted by the flash of light from the coin in his hand, but Nicholai manages to back away from the ghoul without being struck. He backs down the hall watching the woman carefully, his other hand guiding him along the rough wall.
"Sorry my dear, but it just wouldn't work out. Your not my type!" The cheeky dandy cannot help himself as he turns the corner into the room proper. He backs up close to Alton, eyes scanning the room. He is no longer smiling, although his voice sounds chipper as usual.
"Keildrithe! Can you save Kaj? We've got company in the hall! I can,... Oh, we've got company in here too!"
:)
Nicolai beats a hasty retreat into the main chamber.
"Keildrithe! Can you save Kaj? We've got company in the hall! I can,... Oh, we've got company in here too!"
"Doing my best, good friend," replies the bard as he kneels beside the fallen scholar. "Just keep the lovely ladies away from us, will you?"
Alton moves forward to attack, his magical dagger piercing the warlord’s dry leathery skin.
Pharris moves around to flank, her powerful blow clanging off his armour.
Laithe-wolf nods as Keildrithe indicates he is going to Kajetan's aid, offering cover by launching himself in at the newly arrived figures.
Kajetan struggles to catch his breath, pain shooting through him with each inhale. The cold stone floor pressed against his face as he lies on his side.
For several long seconds he waits for death to over come him, but when the ringing of steel in his ears and the pain in his torso do not subside he realises that this wound, although grievous is not life threatening. His young mind races, trying to work out the best course of action, but he is unable to formulate a plan past 'not getting up while next to the sword wielding undead warrior king'.
Laithe-wolf leaps at the armoured skeleton, but his jaws clamp down onto rusted armour rather than bone or flesh. Despite the deterioration of the armour he is unable to pierce it with his teeth.
The first skeletal warrior swings down at Laithe-wolf with its longsword, but the weapon is deflected off the magical protection that Kajetan provided. It’s fellow steps forward and also attacks Laithe, but it is a clumsy blow, easily avoided.
The wight-woman shrieks into the room, glances about, then heads towards Alton, swiping at the Halfling with her claw-like fingernails, but Alton notices her from the corner of his eye and ducks her swing.
Tamiach, now flanked, but with a choice of targets, somewhat curiously turns his back on Alton to face Pharris (given that the former has wounded him whilst the latter has not). Who understands the thinking of the undead? Perhaps he sees Pharris as the more dangerous or more worthy opponent, perhaps he feels his minion will take care of the Halfling.
He brings his blade around suddenly, smashing through the warrior-woman’s defences and although her fine chain armour holds, the hit severly bruises her ribs and draws blood as it forces the links of her chain shirt into her delicate flesh – as well as spreading a coldness through her as a portion of her life force is sucked through the blade, invigouring the warlord, who’s skin is beginning to show the colour and texture of life.
"Pharris! NO!" NIcholai shouts, seeing the elf woman struck. He almost snarls his magic phrase, and two glowing motes shoot from his fingers to zip past Alton and into the ancient warrior.
"Kill the witch. I'll properly thank our host." Nicholai hisses to Alton, his arms already drawing back for another spell.
The missiles veer over Alton’s head to strike the warlord, bruising his newly invigored flesh.
Pharris staggers under the blow but remains upright. She tries to focus her energy like before, tries to find the Dance of Death but its difficult.
"I am death." comes out but it sounds hollow after so many missed attacks.
Alton grits his teeth as another of his companions is badly wounded by the warlord. Hearing Nicolai's suggestion, Alton shakes his head slightly. 'I wont let this abomination take down Pharris too!' He stabs at the creature again, hoping that his quick reactions and the mage armour will keep him safe from further attacks from behind.
Kajetan feels the cold numbness in his hands as he watches, in an almost dream like trance a second undead witch close on him. In desperation he lashes out at this new foe, trying to touch it from the floor.
Touch Attack,
Kajetan grins up from the floor at his companions, "I have had better days, what about you all?" He mumbles a prayer that his hand makes contact with the undead witch (e15 witch).
Alton once again plunges his dagger into the warlord, finding a rent in his breastplate armour.
Kajetan reaches out and grabs the consort’s ankle with his coldly glowing hand. Her dead eyes open wide as she looks down, then lets out a horrified shrieking howl and dashes away into the darkened, northern corridor.
"I am the Blade, the Blade is death." Pharris screws up her courage and takes heart from the way everyone else is showing such bravery.
Pharris hacks into Tamiach, rending his armour, her blade biting deeply into the ancient skin and bones beneath. Fine, dry dust weeps from the wound, and the warlord’s red eyes blaze with hatred.
Laithe is somewhat encouraged by the sounds of his comrades behind him, but is too hard pressed to take a look. He concentrates on trying to bring down the two supernatural beings in front of him, snapping visciously at the closest one.
Laithe bites again, crunching into the animated skeleton’s yellowed, brittle leg bone, snapping it and bringing the undead crashing to the floor in a clatter of breaking bones and old armour.
Keildrithe is both surprised and relieved when he sees Kajetan not only stir, but reach out for the consort's ankle! He hums a melody in Karandic, which makes his left hand glow faintly, and then places the glowing hand on the scholar's wounds. As the worst of Kajetan's wounds close, the bard rises to his feet, ready to defend himself against the undead knight, should the latter target him next...
Alton spins and lashes out at the consort as she turns to flee.
Alton’s blade cuts into the ancient princess’s leathery skin as she flees, but the wound does not fell her, and she runs off, shrieking, into the darkness.
The remaining skeleton swings again at Laithe, but misses again. Tamiach brings his greatsword around for another blow at Pharris, but she manages to dodge aside, and rather than a solid hit, the blade skids down the side of her chain shirt, doing her no damage.
Kajetan considers standing up and then decides that every thing hurts far too much, he lets out a groan as he rolls over and tries to slap Tamiach's leg.
Touch Attack, -1 Strength, +1 Inspire Courage, +2 Base attack, -1 negative level, -4 attacking from floor.
He groans as his wild swings are miles away.
Alton turns back to the warlord, hoping to finish the thing before it can do any more damage to his friends.
Tamiach looks down in apparent disdain as he moves his leg away from Kajetan’s grasp, then snarls and turns his attention to Alton as the halfling scores yet another minor wound against him.
Pharris begins to find some rhythm and grace to her moves. The dance begins now that she can hit the warlord. Ignoring the pain from her wound, the elf maiden attempts the difficult hawksprey manoeuvre where her blade starts up high and when an opening presents itself, she strikes.
All the time watching to make sure that the warlord doesn't catch her off guard. Just one opening.
Kajetan grins up from the floor at his companions, "I have had better days, what about you all?" He says ash he reaches for the undead witch's leg.
Nicholai grins in relief as he hears Kajetan's weak voice, and sees the effect the mage's grip has on the undead consort!
"Can't complain. Well. Alright, I could. But no one listens, so what's the point, really?" The dandy replies drolly, grinning like a school boy as he watches Alton's small blade flash again and again, drawing wounds, (if not blood) from the undead foes each time.
"My turn!" He cries almost joyfully as he unleashes another barrage of mystic bolts at the ancient warrior.
The missiles slam into the warlord, momentarily staggering him . His eyes blaze beneath his helmet, as his gaze wavers between Alton and Nicolai ... you can almost see the mental calculation I’ll have to cut down the small one to get to the mage ... Despite the beating he has been taking there is little to indicate that he is badly wounded.